Health Library

Sleep Apnea

(Obstructive Apnea; Central Apnea; Mixed Apnea)

Definition

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder with pauses in breathing while you are asleep. The stoppage can last for 10-30 seconds at a time, up to 20-30 times per hour. During one night, breathing may stop up to 400 times.

There are 3 types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive

Central

Mixed

With all types of sleep apnea, the brain will sense the pause in breathing and wake you up. Waking up restores normal breathing but breaks the sleep cycle. Poor sleep can make you tired during the day and over time lead to other serious medical conditions like high blood pressure or depression.

Causes

Major causes depend on the type of sleep apnea:

Obstructive—Muscles in the body to relax during sleep. This can let soft tissue in the back of the throat and mouth to sink toward the throat. If the tissue blocks the airway it will temporarily stop normal breathing.

Central—Breathing is controlled by signals from the brain. If the signals are not working properly, breathing can be slowed or interrupted.

Treatment

Treating sleep apnea will decrease symptoms and reduce risk factors for other health conditions. More mild forms may be managed with some lifestyle changes. More severe forms may need long term treatment. The exact treatment will depend on the type of sleep apnea and its severity.

Managing Mild Apnea

Mild obstructive apnea may be relieved with some of the following:

If you are overweight, lose excess weight. Work with your doctor or a registered dietitian ti help create a plan.

Avoid using sedatives, sleeping pills, alcohol, and tobacco. They can make the condition worse by further relaxing tissue.

Try sleeping on your side instead of on your back. Laying on your back will let soft tissue fall directly into your airway.

Use pillows to help you prop yourself into a better position when sleeping.

Oral Appliances

Oral appliances are small devices that keep the lower jaw in a forward position. This helps pull the tongue away from the airway. It may be helpful for those with mild sleep apnea. The devices can also be used for those with severe obstructive sleep apnea who cannot use CPAP therapy.

Mechanical Therapy

Continuous positive airway pressure
(CPAP)
is a machine that gently blows air into your airway to help keep it open. The air is delivered through a mask that you wear while sleeping. CPAP will help you manage sleep apnea but it does not cure it. If you stop using CPAP, sleep apnea will return immediately.

Oxygen may also be added at night with CPAP. It may be recommended if the level of oxygen in the blood falls too low during sleep, even with CPAP alone.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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